Asian Opportunity:
Asia’s leading economies are among the world’s most economically promising with high potential for entrepreneurial growth. Increased corporate maturity and a rising awareness of the value-adding properties of business and professional services is creating strong demand for a range of skills, including management consultancy, education, recruitment, design expertise and legal services.
Mainland China, despite rapid advances in recent years, remains a largely untapped market A new generation of entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals are seeking alternative ways to streamline their business processes, enhance corporate development and legally protect their business and individual needs.
For companies new to the China and wider Asian markets, the challenge is to identify and access these opportunities within a framework of asset security and risk management. For an increasing number of business and professional services providers, Hong Kong offers this framework for success.

Hong Kong Advantage:
The case for Hong Kong is clear. In a region noted as much for its volatility as its high growth potential, the city combines unrivalled access to regional opportunities, from the security of a mature, transparent and free-market environment.
Hong Kong has emerged as Asia’s undisputed centre for business and professional services. The city acts as a magnet for professionals from the fields of law, accountancy engineering, management consultancy, recruitment, design and architecture — and, increasingly, as an exporter of expertise and best practice to neighboring economies.
For many foreign companies, Hong Kong combines the best of both worlds: an international, mature corporate environment, as well as unrivalled connectivity with, and experience of, Mainland China and other high-growth economies in the region.

Hong Kong Means Business:
 Asia’s most popular city for international companies
 Level playing field - no foreign ownership restrictions
 Low and simple personal and corporate tax regime
 Asia’s highest concentration of professional service companies (11,500+)
 Free movement of information, capital and expertise
 Highly skilled. multi-lingual, work force with strong work culture

“Its prime location in Asia, dynamic economy, low taxation system, solid legal structure, anti-corruption regime and well-educated work force are what makes Hong Kong a fantastic place to do business in Asia. The latest free trade agreement, “CEPA”, helps Hong Kong businesses to expand to China as well.”
Andrew Brushfield,
Director,
Robert Half Hong Kong Ltd.

International Business Environment:
Hong Kong’s status as Asia’s leading city for business and professional services is underpinned by its mature corporate track-record, transparent legal system and advanced technology and telecoms platform. It’s a city characterized by an efficient bureaucracy, minimal red-tape and its open and accessible business corn munity.
In the past 25 years, Hong Kong has transformed from a manufacturing centre into the world’s most service-orientated city with some 90 percent of GDP coming from the service sector. This high-level of understanding of the value professional and business services add to an economy makes Hong Kong an easy first stop in any company’s Asia development strategy.
Developing your China-wide business from Hong Kong is facilitated by a unique free trade deal known as the Closer Economic Partnership rrangement, of CEPA. It offers preferential access to Mainland markets from Hong Kong for certain business sector5, including legal services, accountancy, management consultancy, recruitment and advertising.
Cementing its appeal, Hong Kong delivers one of the world’s simplest tax systems. Taxes on salaries and profits are among the lowest in the world and no tax is levied on sales, dividends, capital gains, ones estate or income derived outside Hong Kong.

Strategic Location:
Geographically Hong Kong is ideally located at the heart of some of Asia’s highest potential markets. Companies based in the city are in the same time zone as the rest of China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan. Korea and the Philippines, as well as being within a five-hour flight of half the world’s population.
As a gateway to China, Hong Kong is second to none. It shares a border with Guangdong Province. China’s most economically vibrant region, and is linked by road and high-speed rail to southern China’s wealthiest cities. By air, Shanghai, Beijing and other major Mainland cities are within easy reach.
Mainland China is Hong Kong’s largest business partner with some 40 percent of all investment into Mainland China coming through or from Hong Kong. These trade and capital flows have created an unrivalled level of expertise and experience in managing projects across the Greater China region.

Services Benefiting from “CEPA” Provisions:
 Accounting, auditing & bookkeeping services
 Medical and dental services
 Advertising services
 Real estate services
 Construction & engineering services
 Trade mark agency services
 Job Intermediary services
 Legal services
 Translation & interpretation services
 Management consulting services
 Market research services

Dynamic Community:
Hong Kong is home to Asia’s largest community of business and professional service providers. As well as providing support services and referrals, this community delivers a rich pool of expertise from which to employ teams locally.
Many foreign companies recruit most of their Asia employs in Hong Kong, drawing on local talent, networks and experience It is common for people in Hong Kong to speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin and to have wide experience of Asian and Western business practices.

Cosmopolitan Lifestyle:
Attracting the best professionals to Hong Kong requires more than a high- growth business environrnent. Senior executives are drawn to Hong Kong for the vibrancy of its international lifestyle, and for the range of options that make living and working in the city an easy and enjoyable experience.
Outside the office, executive families enjoy a wide choice of housing, schooling and leisure options. Dependent spouses can seek employment in the city as well as enjoying the large and vibrant expatriate community. Language barriers are also rare making Hong Kong an easier option in Asia for non-Chinese speakers

LEGAL SERVICES:
 Stable, transparent and mature legal system, supported by an independent and experienced judiciary
 Over 40% of Asia’s International lawyers, the largest regional cluster, are based in Hong Kong
 Hong Kong plays a crucial role in cross-boundary (HK-Mainland China) business opportunities (80% of companies have experience in China business)
 Equally. Hong Kong lawyers ore pivotal in managing outward investment from China

HUMAN RESOURCES & RECRUITMENT SERVICES:
 Regional HQ for world-leading HR and recruitment firms
 Strong experience in outsourcing, including hiring, payment, training etc.
 Demand driven by strong international business community and knowledge-based economy
 Strong exporter of recruitment and human resources skills to Mainland China
 Growth areas include legal services, compliance and International practise. banking, international finance, sales and marketing

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY:
 Hong Kong is a leading management consulting centre In the region
 Most Internationally renowned consulting firms have a presence in the city
 High growth potential from Mainland companies seeking international consultation services (especially Operations and process management, and corporate and business strategy)
 Equally, Hong Kong-based companies advise international clients on developing China business strategies

BUSINESS SERVICES                                   PROFESSIONAL SERVICES & LICENTIATES
Environmental consultancy                                   Medical professionals
Marketing, advertising & PR                                 Accounting & auditing
Business outsourcing                                       Architectural & engineering
Surveying & Valuations                                     Real estate brokerages
Translation & interpretation
Design services
Auction houses
Properly developers                                        EDUCATION & TRAINING SERVICES:
Serviced apartments                                        Academic Institutions
Security & Facility                                         Business & training centres
management                                              Child & special educational services
Testing & Certification                                      Alumni & student liaison offices
Medical laboratories
Trademark & Patent                                        CHARITIES, GOVERNMENT AND NGOS
agencies                                                 Charity & not-for-profit organisotions
Government departments & agencies
Economic & political think-tanks
Welfare & community institutions
Religious organizations
Trusts & foundations
Trends & Opportunities:
 Hong Kong has a strong domestic and regional market for high- value corporate and personal business services.
 Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea have the highest concentration — while Mainland China has the highest number - of HNWIs.
 Hong Kong has emerged as a centre for service exports, with Mainland China the main market for medical, education, legal, marketing and design services.
 Influx of Mainland companies raising funds or negotiating international deals in Hong Kong has fuelled demand for legal and financial services.
 Hong Kong’s CEPA free trade deal with Mainland China allows Hong Kong-based companies in certain sectors (see list overleaf) favorable access to the Mainland market.
 Hong Kong and Mainland China have also signed various agreements on mutual recognition of professional qualifications making It easier for Hong Kong-qualified professionals to work in Mainland China.
 The ‘Admissions Scheme for Mainland Talent and Professionals’ allows Hong Kong-based companies to attract top talent from Mainland China.

“For on international law firm looking to open its first office in Asia. Hong Kong appeared to tick all the boxes. We ore very pleased with our decision.”
Stephen Bottomley,
Partner
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP

Useful Sites
The Low Society of Hong Kong — wwwhklawsoc.org.hk
The Hong Kong Bar Association — www.hkba.org
Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre — www.hkiac.org
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants — www hongkong.accaglobal.corn
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants — www.hkicpa.org.hk
Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management — www.hkihrm.org
Management Consultancies Association of Hong Kong — www.mca.org.hk
The Hong Kong Management Association – www.hkma.org.hk
Hong Kong Institute of Marketing — www.hkim.org.hk
The Chartered institute of Marketing — www.cimhk.org.hk
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects — www.hkia.net
Hong Kong Institution of Engineers www.hkie.org.hk
Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors – www.hkis.org.hk
Hong Kong Design Centre — wvw.hkdesigncentre.org
DesignSmart Initiative — www designsmart.gov.hk
Hospital Authority — wwwha.org.hk
Hong Kong Medical Association - www.hkma.com.hk
Hong Kong Dental Association – www.hkda.org
The Medical Council of Hong Kong — www.mchk.org.hk

All the information and data above is only for reference, for further information, please feel free to contact us.